Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #800878 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-04
• Binding: Paperback
• 88 pages

Customer Reviews

Uniquely helpful guide book
Dallas, Texas Social Security Disability lawyer Robert A. Kraft does not fit the mold of the typical lawyer, apparently. For one thing, in this guide book, he "gives away" a wealth of useful information, accessible to the general public as well as to his competitors. He appears genuinely concerned about the rights and interests of the disabled members of our society, and not just because he represents them in Texas (note: according to the introduction to the book, it can be made available at no charge to Texas residents by contacting the author directly; however, it is useful for all Americans). Reading the introduction to his book will give you a warm, fuzzy feeling that you never thought you could have about a lawyer....

Kraft's several decades of legal and human experience shine through on each page of this book. He knows what works in each situation, and what doesn't. In his own words, the guiding question for him throughout his writing of this book was, "If my best friend became disabled and filed for Social Security disability benefits, and I couldn't be there to help, what are the most important things I would want him to know?"

This "Consumer Guide" defines terms in understandable language; it explains which medical conditions (such as arthritis, psychological diseases, epilepsy, MS, etc.) and other factors are relevant in determining whether a person qualifies for disability benefits; it walks you through the disability determination process; it busts myths about Social Security Disability; it warns about potential pitfalls in the claims process; and it analyzes nine different specific potential "fatal mistakes" for you to avoid. I urge anyone who is facing disability, either personally or for a loved one or friend, to obtain this extremely practical "cookbook"-style guide to navigating your way through the confusing maze of disability claims, and to read it as soon as possible, before making any "fatal mistakes."

By the way, I am a business disputes lawyer, and I regularly write and publish articles on various legally-related topics. I hope that mine are as well-written and useful to readers as this information-packed 90-page guidebook.

It's a fatal mistake to not buy this book!
I'm an attorney but don't practice social security disability law. However, I helped a good friend who has cancer get disability benefits last year and wish I had this book then! If navigating through the social security process is difficult for an experienced lawyer such as myself (20+ years), I can only imagine how difficult it is for a non-lawyer.

Mr. Kraft's book is an easy read (an average reader can easily get through it in less than 2 hours) even though it is packed full of excellent information. But there are three important points that you should know if you think this book will allow you to avoid hiring a lawyer to help with your claim:

First (and most important), by law, your lawyer's fee will be paid by the Social Security Adminstration only out of past due benefits owed to you and the fee cannot exceed 25% of the benefits or $5300, whichever is less [with certain rare exceptions such as if additional hearings are required]. So think about it: I can hire a lawyer to process my claim properly at no upfront cost to me and if the lawyer is unsuccessful, I owe him/her nothing; if successful, I know the fee is capped and will be paid only out of my past due benefits. Or I can do it myself and hope I get it right (and if I make a mistake that costs me more than $5,300 in benefits, then I'm in worse shape than if I had hired the lawyer).

Second, the SSA employees are overwhelmed with heavy case loads so having the claim done properly the first time will help you immensely.

Third, it is not a do-it-yourself book because it would be foolish for you to DIY when you can have a lawyer do it for you without having to take a dime out of your pocket. But, it is an excellent guide to make sure that you understand the process and do the right things when you are first confronted with a disability (before you hire a lawyer); and it is an invaluable guide to helping you make sure that the lawyer you hire is experienced with these types of claims.

Bottom line: For less than $20, you can learn a lot about the process and avoid a lot of mistakes. I would do the same for you but charge a lot more! That's another nice thing about this book -- Mr. Kraft really makes an effort to impart very valuable advice with no strings attached. You get the advice whether you hire him [or any other lawyer] or not.

Great Book
This is a great book. Mr. Kraft explains the process and how someone can avoid making common mistakes. This is some of the best, clearest, most concise advice I have seen. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a claim with Social Security.